Rerolling, replaying, and stopping mechanism for musical instruments.



Hf]. LA JOIE. REROLUNG, REPLAIING, AND STOPPING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I9l5. 1,202.53. Patented Oct. 24,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. 1. LA JOIE. REROLLING, REPLAYlNG, AND STOPPING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29,1915.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

2 SHEETS -SHEE T 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT J. LA OIE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 AUTOP IANO COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

REROLLING, REPLAYING, AND STOPPING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed May 29, 1915. Serial No. 31,272.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, HERBERT J. LA Jom,

-- sheet and'apertured tracker-bar are now driven by an electric motor connected to operate the bellows and the various parts of the instrument.

The object of this present invention is to control simply and efficiently there-rolling, the re-playing, and the stopping of the note-sheet in such an instrument.

To this end the invention comprises'means for operating the switch which controls the operation of the electric motor, which means is normally held out of operation by the note-sheet when it is in position, the switch preferably being operated manually to start the motor; means controlled by the notesheet for operating the re-rolling mechanism; and means for automatically reversing the rolling mechanism for re-playing, 'as well as manual means for cutting out the latter. By this mechanism, the sheet will be automatically re-rolled after playing and just as soon as the re-rolling is substantially completed, the electric motor will be stopped unless said manual means has been operated,

in which case the roll will be replayed.

, The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application for patent in WhlCh,

Figure l is a perspective View; Fig; 2 is a. partially diagrammatic view showing the tracker-bar. in front elevationand the controlling pneumatic in plan; Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the lines 3-3 and 44 respectively of Fig. 2; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views on enlarged scale of the tracker-bar and note-sheet, illustrating the operation.

In the drawings, A designates the perforated mote-sheet, and B- the apertured tracker-bar of a musical instrument.

CC represent the pumping bellows'operated by treadles in the usual manner, D the main wind chest, and E a pneumatic pump adapted to be operated by an electric motor, which can be connected to drive the instrument, instead of-the treadles in any of the ways Well known in this art. The music sheet winding and re-rolling motor F is controlled by a governor G in the usual way.

The mechanism, as illustrated, has been designed for, and applied in, an automatic player-piano. The electric motor is controlled-from a switch H. A rod 9, is connected to the oscillating arm 10 of the switch, and has a knob 11 on its end in a convenient position so that the operator can start or stop the instrument. To start the instrument in operation, the operator pushes in on the knob 11. w v

12 represents the re-roll lever of the instrument, which is connected by a link 13 to the governor Gin the ordinary way. The lever 12 is also connected by connections 1'4- to the clutch 15, the parts being arranged so that when the re-roll lever is in the position shown, the note-sheet will be drawn forward over the tracker-bar for playing, and when it isthrown to the left, the motor F will be connected to re-roll the perforated note-sheet at full speed. J

Avcontrol opening 16 is arranged in the tracker-bar so as to be covered by the margin of the note-sheet when the same is in operative position. This opening is connected by a tube 17 to control the operation ofa primary valve 18, which controls the operation of a pneumatic 19. This pneumatic 19 has an arm 20, extending through a hole in which is a 'rod 21 connected to the re-roll lever 12 and the rod 13. A collar 23 isadjustably secured on the rod 21, whereby a movement of the movable leaf of the pneu matic to the right will push said rod 21 to the right. The rod2l still can be moved to the right, independently of the pneumatic.

The note-sheet is' provided with a notch Specification of Letters Patent. I 4 Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

or aperture 24, behind the perforations which are cut in the note-sheet for the piece of music. By this means, when the noteconnects by a tube 26 to control the operaconnected with the other end of the oscillating arm; 10 of the switch II. By this arrangement, when the note-sheet has been 'rewound, the control opening 25 Will be uncovered, which, will cause the pneumatic 28 to operate and snap the switch H so as to throw the motor E out of operation and stop the instrument. In the position shown in Fig. 6 the sheet has not been re-rolled quite far enough-tou'ncover this opening 25 and stop the motor. At the other end of the tracker-bar is shown a replay. control opening 34 located in position to be uncovered by a recess notch 35.. in the note-sheet before the opening 25 is uncovered. This opening 34 is connected by a tube 36 to control the operation of the primary, valve (not shown) of a pneumatic 37. The movable leaf of this pneumatic has an arm 38 like the arm 20 adapted to engage a collar 39 on the rod 21. This causes the winding mechanism to be reversed again at the end of the rerolling operation and replays the music of that sheet. It will be seen, therefore, that the two pneumatics 19 and 37' both have a sliding connection with the re-roll wire21 and the two collars 23 and 39 are fixedto the wire in such a position that each pneumatic can do'its work and move back into its inactive position without having the wire follow it, but the wire will remain ina POSI- tionto be operated again by the opposite pneumatic or by hand.

-The tube 36 is interrupted by a cut-off valve 40 adapted. to be operated by a cut-off projection 41 connected with an oscillating lever 42 to open or close it. This device disconnects vthe tube 36 from the opening 34 and prevents automatic re-playing. The

wire 21 preferably is extended to operatea cut-out 43 when moved to the re-rolling po-.

sition so as to cut-out the action. This is an ordinary construction soit is not shown in detail. I

To prevent the sheet from being separated from the tracker-bar when passing over the openings 16, 25 and 34, a guard 50 is shown in the form. of a wire member or clip. This is shaped substantiallyto the shape of the top of the tracker-bar and hasintegral legs 51 which are bent at 52 to provide pivots. Thesepivots a-re inserted in opposite holes of the tracker-bar and consequently the Whole device is capableof swinging about them. At one side this clip. isjprovided with an integral ofi'set 53which bears on a spring 54 which normally keepsthe clip in contact with the paper or tracker-bar. When it is desired to insert a sheet both clips can be turned over and then the springs will act on the same projections when located on the opposite side of the pivots and hold the clips open. The clips are then thrown inwardly and will act with a light spring pressure to prevent the edges of the sheet fluttering enough to admit air to the end perforations 16, 25, 34 and the like. This feature is not claimed herein as it is not my invention.

' By the mechanism described, the operator puts the note-sheet in position and starts the instrument in operation by pushing in on the knob 11. The note-sheet will now .run forward. When the piece of music has been played, the control opening 16 will be-uncovered-and the mechanism will be set so that the note-sheet will be rewound. After the sheet has traveled, in re-rolling, until the replay opening 34 on left side of the tracker-bar is .uncovered by-the aper ture 35, the l e-play pneumatic 37 will collapse and change all the wire connections to forward playing position, and the instrument will play the piece over again. The cut-01f lever 42 on the left side of the spool box controls this last tracker-bar per-fora .tion. When put at ofi position the replay pneumatic 37 cannot operate and when thepaper then leaves the tracker-bar altogether, the current cut-out opening 25 in the tracker-bar will be exposed, the electric cutoff pneumatic 28-collapsed and the electric switch H shut ofi. This will leave the parts in position so that all the operator has to do is to take the note-sheet out and put in a new music roll or spool for the next piece.

The details herein shown and describedmay be greatly'varied by a skilled mechanic switch to startthe motor, means controlled by said re-roll opening for re-rolling the sheet, and independent pneumatic means held out of operation by the note-sheet and controlled by the second control opening for stopping the motor.

2. In a musical instrument controlled by a perforated note-sheet and tracker bar, the

combination of an operating electric motor, a switch, a manually operated rod for operating the switch to start the motor, the

tracker-bar having a control opening, and a pneumatic independent of said rod having its operation controlled by said control opening and connected to operate said switch to stop the motor without the aid of said when the note-sheet is re-rolled.

3. In amusical instrument controlled by a perforated note-sheet and tracker-bar, the combination of an operating motor, a switch, a control opening normally closed by the note-sheet, a pneumatic having its operation controlled by said opening and connected to operate said switch to stop the motor when the note-sheet is re-rolled, and means for starting the replay automatically before said control opening is uncovered.

4. In a musical instrument controlled by a perforated note-sheet and tracker-bar, the combination of an operating motor, a switch, means for operating said switch held out of operation by the note-sheet, and means for starting the replay before said switch is operated, the last'named means comprising a pneumatic, a tube connected with said pneumatic, a normally closed out out valve for rendering it inoperative, and means for opening said out out valve for replaying.

5. In a musical instrument controlled by a perforated note-sheet and tracker-bar, the combination of an operating motor, a switch, means for operating said switch held out of operation by the note-sheet, and means for starting the replay before said switch is operated, the last named means comprising a pneumatic having its operation controlled rod by-control opening in the tracker-bar located in position to be uncovered before the note sheet allows the switch operating means to act.

6. In a nplsical instrument, the combination with a anually operated reroll lever, means con cted therewith for controlling the reroll aiid replay, a rod connected with said lever, a pair of' collars on said rod, a

pair of pneumatics each having an arm adapted to engageone of the collars when,

the pneumatic collapses and move the rod and reroll lever in one case to reroll and in the other to replay, said rod also being movable in either direction independently of said pneumatics, and a tracker-bar having connections for controlling the operation of said pneumatics. 7. In a musical instrument, the combination with means controlling the reroll and replay, a rod connected with said means, a pair of collars on said rod, a pair of pneumatics each having an arm adapted to engage one of the collars when the pneumatic collapses and move the rod in one case to reroll and in the other to replay, and a tracker-bar having connections for controllin the operation of said pneumatics.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT J. LA J OIE. Witnesses:

W. W. PUSEY,

E. A. CARDINAL. 

